Player welfare concerns raised about staging historic NRL Test in the United States

By Adrian Proszenko

9 February 2018 — 8:00pm

The NRL players' union has raised concerns over the welfare of its members if a proposed Test match between England and New Zealand goes ahead in the United States.

Plans are well established for the international to proceed in Denver on the same weekend as the standalone State of Origin match on June 24, with an official announcement potentially just days away. While the Rugby League Players' Association is fully supportive of the growth of the international game, there are concerns about player workload, insurance and injury that come with taking the NRL's elite for an overseas Test in the middle of an already crammed season.

New Zealand Test skipper Adam Blair.

Photo: AAP

"In relation to the proposed Denver Test match in June, we have a duty to our members to ensure that they understand and are comfortable with the measures that are in place," said Clint Newton, RLPA general manager of player relations.

"We have had several discussions with NZRL and Nigel Wood from the RLIF regarding this fixture. During these exchanges we raised our concerns regarding various issues associated with the Test and asked for clarity on these areas.

"It's now February and we are yet to receive any formal correspondence addressing these issues – which is concerning given the short timeframe leading into the proposed date.

"Players need to go into these games with their eyes wide open and be well-informed regarding any potential risks or issues associated with participating."

Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett, the England coach during the side's Rugby League World Cup campaign, will release his Broncos players for the fixture regardless of whether he remains national coach. However, other NRL clubs are unlikely to be as accommodating amid fears their stars will be injured during the match.

Kiwis captain Adam Blair – an RLPA board member – said all stakeholders needed to be consulted before committing to such an event.

"I'm supportive of this game due to the passion I have for growing the game of rugby league internationally and playing for my country," Blair said. "However, I understand the role that the RLPA needs to play in protecting us and safeguarding our futures.

"The right processes really need to be followed to make sure it is a success. We also have to remember that we have a commitment to our NRL clubs and our families with the proposed Test being mid-season. We understand it might place coaches and high-performance staff in a difficult position.

"So, as players, we just hope everyone is prepared to work together to eliminate any risk of this game not going ahead because it's a great initiative if we can get it right."

Participating players won't return to Australia or New Zealand until Tuesday, making it unrealistic for those involved in Thursday's Parramatta-Dragons round 16 clash to back up. It remains to be seen whether the clubs involved in Friday's fixtures – Sharks versus Warriors and the Storm against the Roosters – would make their stars play.

Not only is the travel to Denver draining – it's a 13,000km-plus trip from Sydney – clubs are likely to have concerns about the toll playing at Colorado's higher altitude in the middle of summer.

"As we know, players love representing their country and never like sitting out any matches of any kind, that's how they are wired," Newton said.

"However, the last thing we want, is for fixtures being rushed through and pushed into the schedule without genuine collaboration, the right processes in place and players feeling obligated to take part without being fully informed or, most importantly, protected.

"A clear process needs to be implemented for planning and scheduling international fixtures – a procedure that allows an appropriate timeframe leading into the game and involves all stakeholders such as the RLIF, NRL, Super League, RLPA and clubs.

"The clubs need to be informed well in advance to ensure they are comfortable with any impact it may have on their season – at the very least the fixture should be agreed to when the NRL draw is released to allow for adequate planning and promotion.

"It is not in our jurisdiction to say that this match shouldn't go ahead – however we still need clarity on a number of areas regarding player welfare and have better systems in place for the future to ensure games like these truly maximise their potential and all stakeholders are brought along during planning."

A spokesperson for the NRL said it had not received confirmation the Test will proceed.

"If it does proceed, we will have talks with the clubs, players and RLPA about welfare issues," the spokesperson said.